The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Ramping Up Attacks on California's Planners
<em>The Wall Street Journal's</em> obsession with planning in California continued this past weekend, as they asked Joel Kotkin, demographer and "Truman Democrat", to discuss what he believes is driving "the great California exodus".
Mitt Romney: Smart Growth Champion?
Lisa Hymas has a fascinating look at the anti-sprawl effort championed by Mitt Romney during his time as Governor of Massachusetts, which became the model for a key Obama “smart growth” initiative — the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.
House Passes Next Transportation Extension, Defying Obama
With the March 31, three-month transportation extension signed, the House passed another to begin July 1. It includes the authorization of the Keystone XL Pipeline in defiance to the President. The next step is a conference committee with the Senate
The Surprising Environmental Benefits of Size and Density
A recent article from Richard Florida shows that the size and density of cities offers considerable advantages to the environment, beyond what is commonly understood.
Extreme Rents Forcing Tough Decisions in NYC
As the average rental price in Manhattan surpasses the all-time high set in the real estate frenzy of 2007, Marc Santora reports on the tough choices facing many renters, amongst the backdrop of a still struggling economic recovery.
Who Should Manage the Automated City?
As cities increasingly turn to automated systems to maximize cost and efficiency, Will Doig asks who should man the controls.
What Toronto Needs From Its Next Chief Planner
As Toronto casts a net across North America in a search to replace recently retired planning chief Gary Wright, Christopher Hume expresses his hopes, and the likely depressing outcome, of the city's efforts.
New Toolkit Aims to Educate Leaders on How to Support Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses
Using case studies from across the country, a toolkit released earlier this month by the National League of Cities aims to provide local leaders with concrete strategies to assist the growth of their local entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Small Town Charm: 20 Great American Hamlets
With the help of a little GIS wizardry, Susan Spano and Aviva Shen map the 20 most cultured small towns in the U.S., from Gig Harbor, WA to Naples, FL and everywhere in between.
Southern Cities that Built Around Cars are Now Building Towards Sustainability
Cities like Atlanta, that have grown up in the age of the automobile and air conditioning, are making efforts to green their environmentally unfriendly buildings and spaces, explains Emily Badger.
On the 42nd Anniversary of Earth Day, Checking in With Its Founder
Greg Hanscom, senior editor at Grist, speaks with Denis Hayes, who coordinated the first Earth Day in 1970, when he was 25, about the big day, green building, and his prognosis for the planet.
20 Years Onward, How Have the Riots Changed LA?
In April 1992, L.A. erupted in a torrent of burning, looting, and rioting following the acquittal of three police officers charged in the beating of Rodney King. Josh Sides looks at how the city responded to those events and how it's changed since.
Making Energy Conservation a Local Prerogative
Coinciding with Earth Day, PBS is airing a series of programs highlighting the ways in which local communities are working to conserve energy in order to save money and save the environment.
OK City Gives Car-Free Mobility a Chance
After decades of false starts, Downtown Oklahoma City is making room for alternative transportation with streetcars, electric vehicle charging stations, and a new bike sharing program, reports Steve Lackmeyer.
Using Social Media to Understand Planning Trends
Brittany Kubinski and Jennifer Evans-Cowley turn to twitter for a detailed analysis of the trends that emerged from this year's APA national conference, and for a comparison to last year's popular topics.
Should Bike Share Be Financially Self-Sufficient?
As bike share systems spread across the country, Danielle Kurtzleben looks at their profitability, or lack thereof, and asks whether cash-strapped cities or the federal government will want to sink money into systems that struggle to break even.
Zoning Children Out of a Good Education
Nate Berg examines new research linking restrictive land use regulations to academically stratified neighborhoods.
As LA Slowly Expands Transit, Looking at Programs to Get Commuters Out of Their Cars Today
Alissa Walker sheds light on the programs and institutions pushing Angelenos to change their commuting behaviors in an effort to recoup some of the 485 million wasted hours that cost the region more than $10 billion annually due to congestion.
Friday Funny: What the Heck is Going Down in Sheboygan?
John Metcalfe spotlights the "shocking, head-scratching and just plain zen tweets from @sheboyganscan, an anonymous Good Samaritan who monitors the police scanner in Sheboygan."
A Business-Friendly Approach to Urban Sustainability
Moira Quinn takes a look at Charlotte, North Carolina, where businesses and local government have teamed up to keep office buildings green as the central business district grows.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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